Mizuno Tadashige

Became Tokugawa clan vassal In 1561, Tadashige became a subordinate of Matsudaira Motoyasu (also known as Tokugawa Ieyasu) at Okazaki Castle in Mikawa. Although the Oda and Matsudaira clans formed an alliance in the spring of the same year through the Kiyosu Alliance , Nobumoto consistently belonged to Nobunaga, and it is believed only around this time Tadashige left Nobumoto and joined Motoyasu. He later rewarded with a head-shaped black lacquered helmet, a motif of the Buddha, and a navy blue armor.

In 1574, Ieyasu attacked Inui Castle in Totomi Province, but was unable to take it. When he retreated, he was attacked by Amano Kagetsura, but Tadashige and Okubo Tadayo served as the rear guard and returned safely. After this, he participated in Ieyasu's Siege of Takatenjin (1581) Castle and frequently reported to Nobunaga. On January 25, he received detailed instructions from Nobunaga. In this letter addressed to Mizuno Tadashige, Oda Nobunaga wrote, "It seems that Takatenjin Castle has offered to surrender and open the castle. Accepting this offer would certainly allow us to capture the castle more quickly, and continuing the siege would be extremely difficult. However, Katsuyori is currently in no position to send reinforcements to Takatenjin. If Katsuyori were to refuse reinforcements and the castle were to be destroyed, his prestige would be greatly damaged. I also intend to attack the Takeda clan within the next year or two. Therefore, please inform Ieyasu to carefully consider which course of action is more advantageous. However, since I will not be present at the scene and cannot assess the difficulties Ieyasu and his soldiers will face, please consult with the senior retainers of the Tokugawa household before making a decision." Tadashige is believed to have been assigned to Tokugawa as an inspector or military inspector of the siege forces. The Mizuno clan Genealogy and the Kansei Shoshu Shokafu records stated that during the siege of Takatenjin Castle, Tadashige and his son Katsunari charged into the Ninomaru bailey and fought bravely when the castle fell in March. That same month, Tadashige served on Nobukatsu side in the Battle of Komaki.

On the 13th, his son Katsunari was ordered to rescue Kobe Castle in Ise. Tadashige attacked the refuge of Okada Yoshitada, the younger brother of Okada Shigetaka (who was executed by Nobukatsu) , forcing him to surrender and capturing it. The next morning, they attacked Miyoshi Hidetsugu's main camp and routed him.

Later, during the main battle at Nagakute, his son Katsunari shared the glory of the victory with Ii Naomasa. However, Mizuno Tadayoshi rather annoyed with his son's conduct of disobeying the central command and took the initiative independently by attacking the enemy before being commanded, thus prompting Tadayoshi to further criticize Katsunari.

Later life and death In 1586, Tadashige participated in the Kyūshū Campaign. On July 29 of the same year, he was appointed Izumi no Kami with the rank of Junior Fifth Rank and given the surname Toyotomi.

In the Siege of Odawara (1590), Tadashige led 250 cavalry. On September 4 of the same year, he was transferred to Kobe Castle in Ise with a fief of 40,000 koku.

In 1592 , during the Imjin War, the Matsuura Kojiki records that Mizuno Izuminokami was among the guards stationed at Nagoya Castle in Hizen.

In 1600, he was killed by Kaganoi Shigemochi on August 27 at Chiryu, Mikawa Province, a few days before the Battle of Sekigahara.

Footnotes